Neonatal deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa: Neonatal deaths was 1.12 million in 2024. ▬ Flat

Latest (2024)
1.12 million
Change on year
down 0.1%
Rank
2nd
of 33 groups
All-time high
1.12 million
in 2023
All-time low
1.04 million
in 1990
Years of data
35
1990–2024

Neonatal deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990–2024

0250.0k500.0k750.0k1.0M1990200720241990: 1.0M1991: 1.0M1992: 1.1M1993: 1.1M1994: 1.1M1995: 1.1M1996: 1.1M1997: 1.1M1998: 1.1M1999: 1.1M2000: 1.1M2001: 1.1M2002: 1.1M2003: 1.1M2004: 1.1M2005: 1.1M2006: 1.1M2007: 1.1M2008: 1.1M2009: 1.1M2010: 1.1M2011: 1.1M2012: 1.1M2013: 1.1M2014: 1.1M2015: 1.1M2016: 1.1M2017: 1.1M2018: 1.1M2019: 1.1M2020: 1.1M2021: 1.1M2022: 1.1M2023: 1.1M2024: 1.1M

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

In 2024, neonatal deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 1.12 million.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 2.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, neonatal deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 1.12 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.04 million, in 1990.

Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd of 33 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.

Neonatal deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year

Annual values for Neonatal deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024) in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1990 1.04 million
1991 1.05 million +1.1%
1992 1.06 million +1.2%
1993 1.07 million +1.2%
1994 1.08 million +0.8%
1995 1.10 million +1.3%
1996 1.11 million +1.0%
1997 1.11 million +0.3%
1998 1.11 million +0.1%
1999 1.12 million +0.1%
2000 1.11 million -0.0%
2001 1.11 million -0.3%
2002 1.11 million -0.6%
2003 1.10 million -0.5%
2004 1.10 million -0.2%
2005 1.10 million -0.0%
2006 1.10 million -0.1%
2007 1.10 million -0.1%
2008 1.10 million +0.2%
2009 1.10 million +0.1%
2010 1.10 million -0.0%
2011 1.10 million +0.1%
2012 1.10 million -0.4%
2013 1.10 million -0.1%
2014 1.10 million +0.4%
2015 1.10 million +0.1%
2016 1.10 million +0.1%
2017 1.10 million +0.3%
2018 1.11 million +0.1%
2019 1.11 million +0.2%
2020 1.11 million +0.1%
2021 1.12 million +0.8%
2022 1.12 million +0.5%
2023 1.12 million +0.0%
2024 1.12 million -0.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 1.09 million 1.04 million 1.12 million 10
2000s 1.10 million 1.10 million 1.11 million 10
2010s 1.10 million 1.10 million 1.11 million 10
2020s 1.12 million 1.11 million 1.12 million 5

Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa

  1. 1 India 386,212 compare
  2. 2 Nigeria 295,006 compare
  3. 3 Pakistan 248,523 compare
  4. 4 Democratic Republic of Congo 105,425 compare
  5. 5 Ethiopia 104,789 compare

See the full ranking of 235 places →

More health data for Sub-Saharan Africa

All data for Sub-Saharan Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is neonatal deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Neonatal deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa was 1.12 million in 2024, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest neonatal deaths recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
The highest recorded value was 1.12 million in 2023.
What is the lowest neonatal deaths recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 1.04 million in 1990.
How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for neonatal deaths?
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 2nd out of 33 groups with data for 2024.
Is neonatal deaths rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Neonatal deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Neonatal deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/neonatal-deaths-un-igme-estimate-2024/sub-saharan-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Neonatal deaths (UN IGME estimate, 2024)
Source
UNICEF
Licence
UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
235 places, 11,424 data points, 1952–2024
Last refreshed